BENGALURU: Residents living in cities across the state will have a tough summer with major reservoirs drying up fast. District administrations have started supplying water in tankers as water levels in several borewells have dipped to below 1,000 feet.
All the seven taluks in Ballari district, and several taluks of Kolar and Chikballapur districts, have already been declared drought-hit. Despite the depleting water levels in Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs, authorities in Mysuru are confident there will be enough water for the next 3-4 months.
The coastal city of Mangaluru, whose only source of water is the Netravati river, is feeling the pinch with no alternative source of water. The situation is no different in Hubballi-Dharwad. In Bengaluru, BWSSB is now planning to dig more borewells to mitigate the crisis.
Water woes in Mangaluru
Residents in Mangaluru fear that the water crisis will be worse this summer. The government will also divert 40 per cent of stormwater flowing into the Netravati river towards east. The government plans to channelise the water to Hemavati reservoir at Gorur and then divert it to KRS reservoir in Mandya taluk and then Bengaluru urban district. The project has reached 60 per cent of completion. A source said, “The water situation will be grim and the city will not be able to supply the 135 litres of potable water to every citizen of the city per capita per person as per the WHO norms.”
The new dam built across the Netravati river at Thumbay has been commissioned which has increased the water impoundment in the river, but according to city corporation officials, the water was only sufficient for 45 days even with rationing.
Tankers supply water in Kolar, Chikkaballapur
With no perennial river flowing through Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts, they are completely dependent on borewells. But the water tables in these district have receded further owing to the poor monsoon.
In Hubballi-Dharwad and Chitradurga districts, residents are being supplied with water from tankers. Each day, tankers make more than hundred trips between Hubballi and surrounding villages. The district administration in Chitradurga has taken steps to supply drinking water through tankers to 25 localities in Chitradurga, 16 in Challakere, 9 in Molkalmuru, 6 in Hiriyur and 5 in Holalkere.
Poor distribution network a problem
After the Neerasagar reservoir dried up a few months back, Hubballi-Dharwad gets water supply from the Malaprabha reservoir in Belagavi district. Water from the Malaprabha is also being supplied to 22 villages located in the way of the pipeline. Though this reservoir has sufficient water, poor distribution network is the problem.
At present, 177 MLD is supplied to the twin cities and other areas once in five or six days. In case of a power cut or other problems, the supply cycle is delayed by a day or two, said a senior official in Water Board.
Water shortage in Ballari since August
Residents in Ballari district have been the worst affected, with many areas facing water shortage since last August. The Tungabhadra dam received less water inflow this year due to the poor southwest and northeast monsoons.
A source in the zilla panchayat said more borewells are being drilled, lakes developed and pipelines laid to help tide over the problem. Of the `32.80 crore received from departments of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Urban Development and Revenue, `15.31 crore has been spent already and the remaining funds will utilised to take up more works.
‘No crisis in Mysuru’
Mysuru cotinues to receive 300 MLD water and so far there has been no decrease in supply of bulk water. Authorities are planning to dig new borewells and even take over private ones if necessary in rural areas. Mysuru Mayor M J Ravi Kumar said there is no water crisis as of now and they are prepared to meet any emergency.
In a review meeting last month, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed officials to ensure drinking water supply during summer and to take over private borewells if necessary.
Somshekar, statistical officer in Revenue department, said, “We are planning to take over borewells from farmers on a rental basis. We will ask them to stop releasing water for crops. We have released sufficient funds for drilling of new borewells, but the plan is not working out as groundwater levels are depleting. We also supplied fodder seeds to many farmers free of cost. These seeds produce fodder in 30-45 days and require less water.”
(With inputs from Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubbali, Kolar, Chitradurga, and Ballari)